Interview with Mikael by R. Brito
Unfortunately, some of the band members that recorded both "Orchid" and "Morningrise" are not in the band anymore. How do you think Mendez and Lopez fill Johan's and Ander's roles? How has been their adaptation with the band?
M: Now when I look at it, I´d say we have moved on to greater things in terms of being a band and all that it means. Anders left the band, and I was shattered, Johan was kicked out and I was content. These changes baffled me at first, and I didn´t know what I wanted to do, but when we found Martin Lopez he sparked my interest in some way. He´s so into what we´re doing. At times I didn´t feel any support whatsoever from neither Anders or Johan, they just adapted to anything. I could come up with a great riff or part and they were like: "Yes, so??". You see my point? I want the members to really be into what we´re doing. Both as musicians and as fans of music. Now afterwards, we´ve reached that goal I guess. All of us are having great expectations on what to come, and myself and Peter are so glad to have a full line-up again. The 2 Martins are now permanent members, and they are in a way equally responsible for everything we do although I write the songs. We have recently started rehearsing the music for the 4th album and it´s going great! They are both taking lessons on the side as well. Both of them have hooked up with latin jazz musicians who are willing to give lessons to them which is great for the band. They have really improved in every way, and these facts make me 100% certain that the next album will be perhaps the most complete work we´ve done.
Now this is a question I've always wanted to know from some artist: do you listen periodically to your own records or do you prefer to listen exclusively to other people's work? Which record do you like best? And what about the other members?
M: I listen to our records as a listener, and not as a member. I still can´t believe it´s me screaming that way. Anyone who says they´re not listening to their own records are full of shit. Fuck that shit, I´m proud of what we´re doing, and I see our albums as some of the jewels in my collection. I think I speak for us all when I say that MAYH is our favourite at this time. Even for the Martins, who used to be die-hard fans of the band. Well actually, I´ve got a tape of all the new songs, and that might be what I listen to most these days.
Do you have any favorite song of yours or any song that you composed that means something special for you, that touches you deeper than the others?
M: That´s hard for me to answer, as I put all my energy into each track. I like the calmer tracks like "Credence" and "To bid you farewell". "When" is perhaps my favourite on the new album. "Forest of October" holds the essence of the band and is one of our best tracks even though it´s the oldest one.
It's not a secret that Opeth albums feature long instrumental passages and sparse vocals, in the very same way that some Camel albums were composed (gee, you seem to be a major Latimer freak,huh?). Do you expect in the future to be able to release a purely instrumental album like Camel did with "(Music Inspired By) The Snow Goose"?
M: I´m not sure I want that actually. I just don´t write music that way. I would rather say that we will work more with the vocals since that´s what I´m improving every day. As for now I know that the 4th album will be the most complicated work so far, with a myriad of different parts and movements. It will take your breath away, and demand your attention. I reckon it will be our longest album as well, since I´ve got around 70 minutes worth of music at this point, and it is all great! We have always been experimenting a lot with the instruments, and that will be done on the next album as well, but I also think that I will sing more, with more vocal harmonies. And the screaming voice will be more dynamic than before. We have also been thinking about using some keys on it like vintage melllotrons and hammonds or rhoades. It will be sparse but might be added here and there to enhance the overall atmosphere.
As most of the fans know (after anxiously awaiting for your third album), "My Arms, Your Hearse" has gone though some name changes,including "Everything Dies". It has also been pointed that this namechange was made to avoid confusion. Which confusion? Was it a banddecision to change the name or was it required by the label(s)?
M: I came up with "Everything dies" after an episode of the X-files. The label didn´t like it, and adviced me to reconsider. I then found the MAYH title and told the company who had by then, changed their minds and advertised it to be called "ED" without telling us. I´m glad we changed it since there was an album released called "Everybody dies" around the same time.
BTW, speaking of labels, how are the sales going? You seem to be very satisfied with Candlelight records (you dedicated MAYH to Lee Barrett), because they seem to give you enough freedom. Is that right?
On the other hand, the Century Media releases are not exact copies of their Candlelight records counterparts (for instance, they feature the logo of the band on the covers) and now it seems that your contract has expired. Have you thought about new labels?
M: We have had ups and downs with Candlelight, and most of the time we didn´t complain. The dedication on MAYH was made to Lee since he was the one who made it possible for us. He had just left Candlelight, and we felt we wanted him to know what he meant to us. Today, I don´t like Candlelight at all, and we have decided to sign to another label. I can now confirm that we will sign to Peaceville records, we are recently working on the contracts. Nobody is in any position to say what we´re gonna do as he/she had to be a person with greater musical qualities than us. I think people in general have accepted that they can´t fool around with our music. It will be the same with Hammy and Peaceville. He loves what we are doing and a major change would be disastrous. I´ve been in contact with Century Media since 1994 and they´ve been after us ever since. We were offered a deal with them recently, but we had other lans. I have copies of the US release, and they aren´t that good looking to be honest. The Euro version is better although it´s not that good either. "Orchid" was fucked up from the beginning, and so was MAYH. "Morningrise" has the better look of them all. I honestly don´t know how many copies we´ve sold in all, but I´d say between 15-20000 copies of each album.
And do you have any word about tours? Will you tour here in Brazil?
If Exodus played here twice after they got signed by Century Media, why can't they promote you?
M: We have always had deep wishes to play in Brazil since Anders was from Sao Paolo, but we haven´t had that opportunity yet. The Martins are both from Uruguay and of course they´d like to play over there. I´d say we´d definately plan a South american tour if we had the opportunity. With the 4th album coming out on Peaceville it might happen. They have the money and the spirit to accomplish such events
What do you think of Nectar, the mailing list? Do you keep up with the discussions?
M: I´m a subscriber, so I´ve gotta check the mails once in a while. Yes, I like it although I don´t follow the discussions about all the different MP3´s or vaws or whatever it´s called. I don´t know anything about that shit, neither do I care. I´ve got some friends on there like Shayne and Janek, both of whom I´ve met. Shayne stayed at my place for a couple of days, and he´s a great person! The list is a good forum for the fans to meet up, and it gives me the opportunity to see what the fans really think about us.
So, it's been said that Opeth already have some material being composed for the new album. How is it turning out to be and how do you feel that it is aging?
M: I´ve been talking a bit about it earlier, but I can´t say enough about it. I´ve started with the lyrics as well, and it will be another concept. Some titles are: "Serenity painted death" and "Face of Melinda". I don´t have a title for the album yet, as usual. However, it will be a real treat for the fans with perhaps the best music I´ve done, and the most interesting lyrics so far. I am recording every new riff I come up with at Blackheims place. He´s bought himself a great device for recordings and has agreed to help me out. This way, I can record everything including drums, bass, harmonies and so on. Then I use to listen to it in my walkman to make sure it´s good, and it is more than that. We are recording in April-99 and I can´t wait to start. We might put short demo excerpts on the official site, but I´m not sure about that yet. As always, I want people to be shocked about the music, so I might keep the secret.
Some questions about Mikael, the person:
How old are you? You mention in the official homepage that you were 5 years old when you first got your Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast", but that's not enough to know your age (though we may guess).
M: I was 8 when I bought that album. That was in 1982. My interest for music has been with me all my life basically, although I started up being a Elvis fan. I´m born in 1974, so I´m 24 years old. I will be 25 when we record the 4th album, and I won´t be able to celebrate myself with all my friends, but I guess the band will have to do.
Before you were interested in music, you were interested in sports. Which sports do you enjoy the most? Do you still have time to practice your favorite sports? Do you have other hobbies?
M: I was a soccer player for almost 11 years. I was a forward in Sörskogens IF! Anders was the goalkeeper actually! I also was a tennisplayer/teacher a few years back. I was quite good actually, but the music took it´s toll and stole my complete attention. Nowadays I don´t do much sports apart from swimming and badminton. Too seldom though. I used to play with Blackheim who was a big promise in badminton when he was younger, but when I finally beat him, he didn´t want to play anymore. I talked both Peter and Jonas(Katatonia) into playing with me, but they only lasted for one game each. Peter crashed and burned, and Jonas longed for his cigarettes. So at this point, I´m not doing much apart from the music, and that is basically my only interest!
Do you surf the web?
Do the other members enjoy using the Internet?
M: Not much really! None of us are really into computers unless a great game is plugged in. I´ve visited the Opeth sites and so on, but that´s all. I´m more into the games. I´ve just finished Blade runner and Phantasmagoria, and are about to start with Phantasmagoria II!
Now for something completely different: it's been talked that you like Camel and other 70s progressive rock bands (nice taste, BTW
), but people always wonder what your preferred bands are. What are they? Feel free to talk about them as much as you want. Do you listen to jazz? Bebop? Fusion?
M: I have a very, very wide taste of music although I´ve cot favourites as everyone else. My eternal top three is Sabbath, Priest and Camel. I´m addicted to these bands, and there are times when I onlt listen to them. I listen to a lot of progg music, but I don´t like the new buttery stuff like Arena and so on. Actually, some of the eighties so called progg-bands look almost retarded, and I don´t like big synth or pretentious stuff like Marillion or Fates Warning. It´s too much for me, and not laid back at all. Camel´s the best progg band, since their music doesn´t seem to be very clinically produced.I also love Culpeper´s Orchard, Comus, Cressida, PFM, Museo osenbach,
Gracious and so on. All of them being very special blends. I listen a lot to older Wishbone Ash and rock like Mahogany rush. I´m also into some poser metal bands like Whitesnake and Europe who are great! I´ve been holding on to them since my interest in music began, and some of their music is timeless. I always been a fan of the Scorpions, everything they´ve done basically. I don´t know if it´s nostalgia or not, but I do like it. Beatles did some of the best tracks ever. In fact, "A day in the life" is my personal #1 of all time!When I listen to jazz it´s Wes Montgomery or Jan Johansson who are peaceful and inspirational. Soundtracks like Omen or Nosferatu are very
often played on my stereo. I like Popol Vuh, much of what the guy has done. Landberk is Swedens best Prog-band. Some heavier metal is also appreciated: Celtic Frost, Mefisto, Morbid Angel, King Diamond,
Entombed, Death, Bathory and Voivod.
Questions about the side projects:
Will your side projects songs be released by any chance? Oh, pleeease, say yes...
M: Steel has been released on a very limited picture 7" by Near dark! Sörskogen...I don´t know, there seem to be a big demand for this, but I can´t say if it will ever be released! I´ve recorded a new track recently, and will soon hook up with Dan to record yet another one. We have also recently recorded 3 tracks with Bloodbath which is a aged desire of mine. It´s plain death metal the way it sounded in the late 80´s. Consisting of Me, Dan Swanö, Anders/Jonas from Katatonia. I don´t think it will be released though.
Are the side projects kept hermetically separated from Opeth, or do you feel that they may reflect some influences upon each other?
M: None of them have anything to do with Opeth! I don´t even see them as projects...just a waste time thing, you know?
What do you think of working with Katatonia in the past? I mean, their music is much simpler than Opeth's. Did you feel comfortable with their songs?
M: Even though I write somewhat complex music I´m still able to know a good song when I hear one. Katatonia´s great band, and they have really captured a sound that has a very big hit-potential. They are better than ever before, and I´m sure this is what they have wanted to do all along. I worked with them since I´m a close friend, and I´d be glad to help them out again. They´ve asked me to co-produce the vocals for their 4th album as they are so satisfied with the way it worked out on "Discouraged ones". I haven´t said yes at this point since I think that they might cope on their own. Time will tell I reckon.
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From
www.metal-br.com
NEW ALBUM/COMPOSING
Guilherme Braga: Well Mike, first of all let me say it's a great pleasure to have the opportunity to interview you. When I wrote asking for this interview you said you were "busy in the studio", on (what I presume to be) the very beggining of the recording process for the upcoming album "Blackwater Park". I think it is a great topic to start off with: Could you tell us what we may expect from it, compared to previous Opeth releases? Is there any songs finished yet, and/or songtitles? Any comments are welcome!
Mikael Åkerfeldt: No titles apart from the title track are done. In fact I haven't started with the lyrics yet with only 6 or so days until I'm due in the vocal booth. It's always been like that, so I'm used to the stress. Musically this album is rawer, maybe more "metal" than ever before. Still there's a pulse that runs throughout the entire album that makes it swing real hard, you know. It's hard to compare it to any older albums really, but of course we still are the same band with the same influences. Eh, we've been listening to eastern sounds though and it will put its mark on this recording here and there.
GB: On "Morningrise" we had "To Bid You Farewell"; on "My Arms, Your Hearse", "Credence", and on "Still Life", "Benighted" and "Face Of Melinda". Are you going to present us another slow-paced, acoustic song(s) in the vein of these once again?
MÅ: We do have a mellower track although not as slow as "usual". This is more in a waltz beat with maybe some Jeff Buckley influences. I don't know. The vocal lines are very, very interesting.
GB: Will "Blackwater Park" be a concept album? If yes, could you give us some ideas about its story and lyrical concept? (and if it isn't, well, could you please talk about the lyrics anyway?)
MÅ: As I said, I haven't started with the lyrics yet, but I do know that this will not be a concept. I've done it twice on the last two records and I need time to chill, you know. It's just gonna be separate stories of desparation and the darkness.
GB: Talking about lyrical concept: some figures in your lyrics- the moor, the forest, the moon- are often present, along with feelings of melancholy and sadness. What are your main inspirations for writing them, and in which way do you try to make them affect people? Will "Blackwater Park"'s lyrics explore this kind of elements again?
MÅ: Basically I'm the same person as ever, and the lyrics are gonna be similar. It's not like I'm gonna cover grounds in politics or that shit. I enjoy writing these cryptic downer lyrics, so I'm gonna continue in the same pattern although I'll update with the years going by.
LIVE SHOWS
GB: Opeth has been/will be playing a considerable numbers of gigs here and there lately (Milwaukee Metalfest, Wave Gotik Treffen, the gigs in Poland, Progpower Festival). How has the crowd reacted to your performances? I mean, you don't usually play lots of gigs, so I believe the people fortunate enough to be at these places must really have reponded to the band's appearance. Also how do you (the band as a whole, not necessarily just you) feel about playing live?
MÅ: The Metalfest gig was awesome. It was our first US appearance and we sure as hell want to go back there for a full tour. In fact, all our latest gigs have been really cool. We'll see about the progpower thing were we'll headline the event playing 1 and a half hours. We haven't played in Holland since 1996.
MEMBERS, EX-MEMBERS, PROJECTS
GB: There is quite a lot of controversy amongst your fans about the line-up change which has taken place after the release of "Morningrise". I feel, from another interviews w/ you that I have read, that you do not like very much to talk about the subject, but I cannot let the chance to ask slip by: It is no wonder that the sonority of Opeth has changed since the departure of Johan and Anders (my opinion at least-which is natural I also think, since they were 50% of the band). How would you compare the two line-ups (in all aspects: getting along, playing, performing live, etc)?
MÅ: I would be lying if I don't "mourn" what me and Anders had together as musicians and friends. All that is basically lost know. We don't talk anymore. I haven't seen him in ages. He doesn't wanna talk to me I think. Johan and I were never that close and his departure was essential for the well-being of this band. With the 2 Martins we once again have fresh blood in the band. They're great musicians, great friends and overall eased up people like myself. It's the third real stable Opeth line-up and it's without a doubt the best one.
GB: Both Martin Mendez and Martin Lopez played in the excellent Uruguayan band Requiem Aeternam. Have you ever listened to the band, and if yes, what do you think about it?
MÅ: I didn't know that. They've told me about their old bands but never mentioned any names. So that's what it is? I've heard some of the stuff they've done before and I think it's OK, but they're reborn musicians now. Before all they wanted was to play fast and shit. I don't mind that at all, I love it as well, but if you're gonna be in Opeth there's more to it than being fast.
GB: And speaking about another bands, what about Bloodbath? Any plans for a full-length release?
MÅ: Not at this point, no. We'we been approached by Century media to do a Lp but none of us are really free right now, or that interested to be honest. It was a one-off thing and we'd like to keep it that way.
MISC
GB: What do you think of the Metal scene nowadays? Any new band which you are into?
MÅ: I'm sorry but I don't like the metal scene today at all. There's just a bunch of puffs playing. They should put their money where their moths are, you know. There's not many real metal bands out there right now. If left it behind...we're in our own little world that's devoid of any outside influences regarding new metal. I've had my 20 or so years being influenced by metal and I need something else now. But hell, if you find a interesting new metal band, let me have it!
GB: What have you been listening to lately? I always remember you mentioning progressive bands as your main influences, but I don't know very much about your Metal influences. Could you say a little about that?
MÅ: I basically listen to the same records as ever. Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, King Diamond, Ozzy...you know stuff like that. Whitesnake are the stuff...I fucking love them! I got a autograph from David Coverdale just the other day. I almost fainted!
GB: Well thanks a great deal for this opportunity! I really appreciate it (and maybe hope to be able to talk to you once again after the album is released!)You may say whatever you want here: Any last words, advice, recipes and etc.
MÅ: Just wanna say thanks for the interview + sorry for being so late in answering it!
Cheers!
